Introduction

Source: The Dielo Trouda Group Paris. 20.6.1926;Transcribed: by EndPage.com.

It is very significant that, in spite of the strength and incontestably
positive character of libertarian ideas, and in spite of the forthrightness and
integrity of anarchist positions in the facing up to the social revolution, and
finally the heroism and innumerable sacrifices borne by the anarchists in the
struggle for libertarian communism, the anarchist movement remains weak despite
everything, and has appeared, very often, in the history of working class
struggles as a small event, an episode, and not an important factor.

This contradiction between the positive and incontestable substance of
libertarian ideas, and the miserable state in which the anarchist movement
vegetates, has its explanation in a number of causes, of which the most
important, the principal, is the absence of organisational principles and
practices in the anarchist movement.

In all countries, the anarchist movement is represented by several local
organisations advocating contradictory theories and practices, having no
perspectives for the future, nor of a continuity in militant work, and
habitually disappearing, hardly leaving the slightest trace behind them.

Taken as a whole, such a state of revolutionary anarchism can only be
described as 'chronic general disorganisation'.

Like yellow fever, this disease of disorganisation introduced itself into the
organism of the anarchist movement and has shaken it for dozens of years.

It is nevertheless beyond doubt that this disorganisation derives from from
some defects of theory: notably from a false interpretation of the principle of
individuality in anarchism: this theory being too often confused with the
absence of all responsibility. The lovers of assertion of 'self', solely with a
view to personal pleasure. obstinately cling to the chaotic state of the
anarchist movement. and refer in its defence to the immutable principles of
anarchism and its teachers.

But the immutable principles and teachers have shown exactly the
opposite.

Dispersion and scattering are ruinous: a close-knit union is a sign of life
and development. This lax of social struggle applies as much to classes as to
organisations.

Anarchism is not a beautiful utopia, nor an abstract philosophical idea, it
is a social movement of the labouring masses. For this reason it must gather its
forces in one organisation, constantly agitating, as demanded by reality and the
strategy of class struggle.

"We are persuaded", said Kropotkin, "that the formation of an anarchist
organisation in Russia, far from being prejudicial to the common revolutionary
task, on the contrary it is desirable and useful to the very greatest degree."
(Preface to The Paris Commune by Bakunin, 1892 edition.)

Nor did Bakunin ever oppose himself to the concept of a general anarchist
organisation. On the contrary, his aspirations concerning organisations, as well
as his activity in the 1st IWMA, give us every right to view him as an active
partisan of just such an organisation.

In general, practically all active anarchist militants fought against all
dispersed activity, and desired an anarchist movement welded by unity of ends
and means.

It was during the Russian revolution of 1917 that the need for a general
organisation was felt most deeply and most urgently. It was during this
revolution that the libertarian movement showed the greatest decree of
sectionalism and confusion. The absence of a general organisation led many
active anarchist militants into the ranks of the Bolsheviks. This absence is
also the cause of many other present day militants remaining passive, impeding
all use of their strength, which is often quite considerable.

We have an immense need for an organisation which, having gathered the
majority of the participants of the anarchist movement, establishes in anarchism
a general and tactical political line which would serve as a guide to the whole
movement.

It is time for anarchism to leave the swamp of disorganisation, to put an end
to endless vacillations on the most important tactical and theoretical
questions, to resolutely move towards a clearly recognised goal, and to operate
an organised collective practice.

It is not enough, however, to establish the vital need of such an
organisation: it is also necessary to establish the method of, its creation.

We reject as theoretically and practically inept the idea of creating an
organisation after the recipe of the 'synthesis', that is to say re-uniting the
representatives of different tendencies of anarchism. Such an organisation,
having incorporated heterogeneous theoretical and practical elements, would only
be a mechanical assembly of individuals each having a different conception of
all the questions of the anarchist movement, an assembly which would inevitably
disintegrate on encountering reality.

The anarcho-syndicalist method does not resolve the problem of anarchist
organisation, for it does not give priority to this problem, interesting itself
solely in penetrating and gaining strength in the industrial proletariat.

However, a great deal cannot be achieved in this area, even in gaining a
footing, unless there is a general anarchist organisation.

The only method leading to the solution of the problem of general
organisation is, in our view, to rally active anarchist militants to a base of
precise positions: theoretical, tactical and organisational, i.e. the more or
less perfect base of a homogeneous programme.

The elaboration of such a programme is one of the principal tasks imposed on
anarchists by the social struggle of recent years. It is to this task that the
group of Russian anarchists in exile dedicates an important part of its
efforts.

The Organisational Platform published below represents the outlines, the
skeleton of such a programme. It must serve as the first step towards rallying
libertarian forces into a single, active revolutionary collective capable of
struggle: the General Union of Anarchists.

We have no doubts that there are gaps in the present platform. It has gaps,
as do all new, practical steps of any importance. It is possible that certain
important positions have been missed, or that others are inadequately treated,
or that still others are too detailed or repetitive. All this is possible, but
not of vital importance. What is important is to lay the foundations of a
general organisation, and it is this end which is attained, to a necessary
degree, by the present platform.

It is up to the entire collective, the General Union of Anarchists, to
enlarge it, to later give it depth, to make of it a definite platform for the
whole anarchist movement.

On another level also we have doubts. We foresee that several representatives
of self-styled individualism and chaotic anarchism will attack us, foaming at
the mouth, and accuse us of breaking anarchist principles. However, we know that
the individualist and chaotic elements understand by the title 'anarchist
principles' political indifference, negligence and absence of all
responsibility, which have caused in our movement almost incurable splits, and
against which we are struggling with all our energy and passion. This is why we
can calmly ignore the attacks from this camp.

We base our hope on other militants: on those who remain faithful to
anarchism, having experienced and suffered the tragedy of the anarchist
movement, and are painfully searching for a solution.

Further. we place great hopes on the young anarchists who, born in the breath
of the Russian revolution, and placed from the start in the midst of
constructive problems, will certainly demand the realisation of positive and
organisational principles in anarchism.

We invite all the Russian anarchist organisations dispersed in various
countries of the world, and also isolated militants, to unite on the basis of a
common organisational platform.

Let this platform serve as the revolutionary backbone, the rallying point of
all the militants of the Russian anarchist movement! Let it form the foundations
for the General Union of Anarchists!